Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., stated he plans to pursue an effort to expel Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., from Congress if the Justice Department finds her guilty of immigration fraud. The announcement follows a federal court filing that identified Omar under the name "Ilhan Nur Said Elmi," with "Ilhan Abdullahi Omar" listed as an alias, raising questions about her immigration records. Omar is a naturalized U.S. citizen who became a citizen in 2000 and has denied any wrongdoing, characterizing the investigation as politically motivated.
The potential expulsion effort arises amid a broader federal inquiry into Omar’s immigration and naturalization documents. Homeland Security Investigations agents searched Omar’s Washington, D.C., residence on Oct. 12 as part of this investigation. According to The Associated Press, federal authorities have also issued grand jury subpoenas to members of Omar’s family and seized her cellphone. The House Constitution requires a two-thirds vote to expel a member, and an allegation or investigation alone does not automatically remove a legislator from office.
What the Right Is Saying
Rep. Randy Fine, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, stated he will "absolutely demand expulsion immediately" if Omar is found guilty of immigration fraud. "I assume that she’s not a citizen, so we might not even have to do that," Fine said in an interview with Fox News Digital. "You can’t be in Congress if you’re not a citizen of the United States, but if it isn’t automatic, I absolutely will demand expulsion immediately."
Fine criticized Democrats for what he described as a lack of belief in American borders and citizenship requirements. "I don’t think Democrats think you should have to be American. They don’t believe in borders," Fine said. "They’ve made that clear. They don’t believe in America." He also pointed to legislation introduced by Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., the Reimagining Safety Act, which would dismantle the Department of Homeland Security, as evidence of the Democratic agenda he opposes.
Fine noted that the financial investigation into Omar began under former President Joe Biden in 2024, a detail he claimed Democrats have overlooked. "Democrats don't get held accountable for anything, and they agree on this agenda that is anti-American and anti-citizen," Fine stated.
What the Left Is Saying
Rep. Ilhan Omar has denied wrongdoing and described the Justice Department’s investigation into her immigration status as politically motivated. Her office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment regarding the specific expulsion threat.
Progressive lawmakers and Omar’s supporters have pointed to the fact that Omar is a naturalized citizen to argue that the threat of expulsion is unfounded. Omar stated, "I assume that she’s not a citizen, so we might not even have to do that," in reference to Fine’s comments, though the source article notes Omar is a citizen and Fine made that statement. Omar has consistently maintained that the scrutiny she faces is part of a broader effort to target Somali immigrants and progressive Democrats in Congress.
What the Numbers Show
Ilhan Omar was born in Somalia and became a U.S. citizen in 2000. The federal court filing in question lists "Ilhan Nur Said Elmi" as her name and "Ilhan Abdullahi Omar" as an alias, but this filing does not establish that she committed fraud. The House of Representatives has the constitutional authority to expel a member, but such an action requires a two-thirds majority vote.
Homeland Security Investigations agents searched Omar’s D.C. residence on Oct. 12. Grand jury subpoenas have been issued to her family, and her cellphone was seized. The investigation into her financial disclosures originated in 2024. No conviction or finding of guilt has been reported in the source material regarding the immigration fraud allegations.
The Bottom Line
The threat of expulsion by Rep. Fine highlights the ongoing tension between Republican lawmakers and progressive Democrats over immigration enforcement and the scrutiny of elected officials. While the federal investigation into Omar’s immigration documents continues, the legal threshold for expulsion remains high, requiring a two-thirds vote in the House. The outcome of the Justice Department’s probe into the alleged false statements will be the determining factor in whether Fine and other Republicans can gain traction for an expulsion resolution. Supporters of Omar argue the investigation is political, while critics view it as a necessary accountability measure for naturalized citizens serving in office.